Prabowo or Gibran to Lead Independence Day Ceremony at IKN? Here's What Basuki Says

The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) is finalising preparations for the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN). Although there is no certainty whether President Prabowo Subianto or Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka will lead the ceremony in IKN, various series of events are still being prepared. Head of OIKN Basuki Hadimuljono stated that, to date, there has been no directive from the Ministry of the State Secretariat regarding the location of the presidential ceremony. However, OIKN is continuing with various preparations to welcome the Independence Day commemoration. “We don’t know yet, there has been no directive from the State Secretariat, but we are preparing for the 17 August ceremony. It is still being prepared,” Basuki said when met at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Thursday (16/7/2026). Basuki explained that a number of agendas have been prepared to enliven the Independence Day commemoration in IKN. One of them is an angklung performance in collaboration with Bank Mandiri, replacing the previous Music and Drum Band Attraction (AMDS) concept. “The preparations are good, quite good. So, where previously there was AMDS, now we have a collaboration with Bank Mandiri for an angklung performance. That’s a decent addition, and then there is also SMA Taruna Nusantara, they will also go there to participate in the independence ceremony,” he said. Not only that, OIKN will also hold an event titled Merdeka Night on the evening of 15 August 2026. Basuki estimated that around 3,000 people will attend the activity. “Then we are organising Merdeka Night on the night of 15 August, approximately 3,000 people will attend,” he said. According to Basuki, participants who will fill the series of Independence Day events in IKN will not only come from East Kalimantan. Communities from several provinces on the island of Kalimantan are also expected to attend. “These are from around the area, not just East Kalimantan, but there are people from North Kalimantan and South Kalimantan coming,” Basuki said. Although preparations are ongoing, Basuki confirmed that there is still no information regarding the schedule for the President or Vice President to attend the ceremony in IKN. “There is none yet, no news,” he concluded.